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Albion Rovers 1 v 4 Cowdenbeath |  |
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Albion Rovers 1 v 4 Cowdenbeath | |
| Bell's League Third Division 9th April 2005 |
Attendance : 323
Scorer ~ Albion Rovers : Wilson (80 pen.). Cowdenbeath : Fusco (14), Buchanan (26), Gribben (77), Kelly (90).
The roller-coaster ride that is being an Albion Rovers fan continued at Cliftonhill with Rovers being comprehensively humbled by their Fife opponents.
A minute's silence for the late Pope preceded the game which first sprung into action 4 minutes in when John McKeown had his back header cleared off the Rovers line by Marc McKenzie.
The next action of note was in 14 minutes when Cowdenbeath took the lead thanks to Gary Fusco volleying home from 10 yards following a Shand cross.
Rovers tried to respond but a McKenzie lob from 30 yards failed and this was soon followed by a strong Stirling free-kick from 25 yards which was parried by the Cowdenbeath 'keeper.
Another strong Jered Stirling free-kick from 30 yards this time came off the assembled wall for Ricky Patrick to hit over the Cowden bar.
In 26 minutes the Blue Brazil doubled their lead when Liam Buchanan struck the ball under advancing 'keeper Fahey after the ball was supplied by Ryan McCallum.
There then followed 3 chances for Rovers all taken by striker John Bradford, 2 of which went straight to 'keeper Carlin and the 3rd missed the target. Shortly afterwards gaffer Jimmy Lindsay replaced Bradford with Andy Selkirk.
Jered Stirling swung a free-kick into the visitors box an the ball bounced about culminating in a shot which came off Carlin and out for an unproductive corner. The last seconds of the first half saw Selkirk get the ball on the edge of the box and despite there being no immediate challenge the youngster snatched his shot which missed it's intended target.
Second Half
A few minutes into the second period a bit of a stramash in the Cowdenbeath goalmouth led to Jim Mercer shooting without success. Then Wilson had a shot of his own which was tipped over the bar by Carlin.
A long ball came across the Blue Brazil goal and was shepherded out of their box by Carlin, as Wayne Gordon approached the 'keeper attempted a clearing kick but instead kicked fresh air. Meantime Gordon had slipped but managed to get up in time to have a kick at goal which unfortunately missed. Wilson provided Gordon with the ball only for the striker to launch the ball over the visitors bar.
In 77 minutes Cowdenbeath made it 3 when Darren Gribben took the ball from his own half till around the 30 yard mark where he launched it into the back of the Rovers net.
In 79 minutes Wayne Gordon was adjudged to have been brought down in the Fifers box, a decision which 'keeper Carlin took great exception to and let Gordon know in no uncertain terms. Marc Millar received a booking during the incident. A minute later up stepped Lee Wilson to drill the ball hard and low into the back of the net from the penalty spot.
Advancing once more Marc McKenzie supplied a cross into the box which was headed onto the crossbar by Lee Wilson. Play switched ends quickly and Calvin Shand went on a run up the wing which ended with a shot into the side netting when a few of his colleagues were waiting in the centre for a cross.
On the 90 minute mark Cowdenbeath scored their fourth when substitute John Paul Kelly hit the ball which hit the diving Fahey and went over him into the goal.
McKenzie of Rovers and Mauchlen and Millar of the visitors received booking during the game.
Summary
An extremely poor performance from Albion Rovers. The team will have to lift their performance for next Saturday's trip to East Stirlingshire where a win would ensure that 'Shire rather than Rovers get the wooden spoon. A win would also keep alive Rovers chances of climbing to 8th place in the table. Nobody was deserving of the man of the match tag.
Albion Rovers : Fahey, Friel, Stirling, Potter, Patrick, Black, McKenzie, Gordon, Bradford (Selkirk 38), Wilson, Mercer (McInulty 77). Subs Not Used : Douglas, McCaul, Carr.
Cowdenbeath : Carlin, Shand, Campbell, Millar (Kelly 84), McKeown, Ritchie, Mauchlen, Fusco, McCallum (Gribben 71), Buchanan, Williams. Subs Not Used : McGregor, Baird, Fleming.
Referee : Chris Boyle